Prayer and Intercession

CRITICAL: the Spirit and Christ intercede directly for believers (Romans 8:26-27, 8:34). Orthodox piety gives intercession of the saints, and especially of the Theotokos, a liturgically constant and central role (akathists, litanies); this curriculum should not argue against requesting others’ prayers, but must not let learners default to saint or Marian mediation as the primary model of intercession.